Despite closed borders, Security Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility arm, Security Bank Foundation Inc. (SBFI) wasted no time in responding to the damages brought by Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses in Bicol. With peak winds of around 215 kph and heavy downpour, residents were advised to seek shelter in evacuation sites, many of which were schools and community gymnasiums.
With two strong typhoons hitting the region, many schools were affected, causing significant damages to the school classrooms, particularly its roofing, making them unusable as evacuation sites.
Coordinating closely with the Department of Education (DepEd) division offices in both Naga and Legazpi, SBFI donated a total of 1454 pieces of Galvanized Iron (GI) sheets to repair damaged school roofs in Naga City, Camarines Sur, and Legazpi City. A total of 45 schools benefitted from SBFI’s donation which was made possible by the Bank’s client donation initiative last December 2020.
“The Schools Division of Legazpi City expresses its profound gratitude to the Security Bank Foundation for generously giving us these GI sheets to rehabilitate classrooms damaged by Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses,” said Schools Division Superintendent for Legazpi City Crestito Morcilla.
As a standard, SBFI evaluates its donated school buildings every five years to assess structural integrity and conduciveness for learning.
Those that were heavily damaged by disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons are prioritized for repair to ensure safety of students and avoid class disruption when face-to-face learning resumes.
“The various beneficiary schools in Naga were so grateful, and they would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Security Bank for its assistance. They wished that Security Bank Foundation will continue its education advocacy for a better nation,” says Marivel Florin, Security Bank Business Manager for Naga Diversion Road Branch.